Ernest Nesvold

Ernest Nesvold, age 95, of Fosston, MN, passed away on Tuesday (March 14^th) at Essentia Health Hospital in Fosston. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday (March 24^th) at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fosston with Father JohnMelkies Suvakeen officiating. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Fosston, in the spring. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Military honors will be provided by the National Guard Honors Team. Messages of condolence may be sent and live-stream of the service viewed at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Ernest Lawrence Nesvold was born on January 18, 1928 in Fosston, Minnesota to parents Hans and Mary Nesvold. He was the youngest of ten children and was raised on a small farm south of Fosston. He attended the Steinbrenner Country School located in Heier Township through the eighth grade and was baptized and confirmed in Kingo Lutheran Church.

When Ernest’s older brothers were drafted into the Army during World War II, he left school to help his father run the family farm. In 1951, he was drafted by the US Army and attended basic training in Ft Chaffe, Arkansas, where he was trained as an artillery gunner.  In February of 1951 he was sent to Korea and served in the 2nd Division, 38th Field Artillery Unit. He was honorably discharged from the military in March of 1952 at the rank of Staff Sargent.

On November 30, 1957, Ernest was united in marriage to Florence Schacher in Fosston. Together they operated a small but very successful dairy farm. In 1986 they received a special “Master Milk Producer” award from Land O’ Lakes for the consistent high-quality production from the farm. After living on the family farm for over 48 years, they sold it to their sons and moved to their new home in the town of Fosston. Ernest stayed active maintaining a large yard and garden in town and made regular visits to the country to visit friends and check on the family farm. 

Ernest also had many interests and hobbies and was well known as a meticulous craftsman, with great patience.  He really enjoyed making small crafts and repairing broken items for friends and family. He also was an avid card player and greatly enjoyed getting together with friends and family to enjoy a friendly game of whist. He also enjoyed travelling. Some of his most memorable trips were to Alaska, Washington DC, Norway, England and the beaches of Normandy in France. Ernest always loved being outdoors too. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was still actively hunting whitetail deer at the age of 93.

Ernest passed away on Tuesday, March 14,2023 at Essentia Health Hospital in Fosston at the age of 95 years.

Ernest is survived by his wife Florence, of Fosston, two sons, Randy(Karen)Nesvold of Lengby and Rick(Lisa)Nesvold of Fosston, seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren with another one on the way.   Ernest was proceeded in death by his father Hans, his mother Mary, and nine siblings; Edna, Henry, Alice, Olive, Elbert, George “Lloyd”, Robert, Raymond and Nina.

Ernest was a humble and kind man, who was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be greatly missed.